Storiesand essays by ten talented Australian writers, including Maria Takolander, Tony Birch, MarionHalligan, Ryan O'Neill and Jennifer Mills. Introduction by Amanda Lohrey.

'Onlyrarely does a critic come across a perfect collection.' - Helen Elliot, The Australian

'Filledwith cutting-edge, innovative writers and armed with an expansive definition ofwhat it is to be an Australian, Crackingthe Spine will be at once accessible to undergraduate students andinformative and challenging for their teachers. What a thrill to see a worklike this come about!' - Nicholas Birns, Antipodes 

'Literature,life, landscape, history: the whole gamut of Antipodean experience may begleaned from its pages. An ideal resource for those interested in Ozlit, Crackingthe Spine is also a pure pleasure to read.' - Geordie Williamson